Snohomish-area sex offender held for alleged assault

SNOHOMISH -- The allegations, 15 years apart, had some striking similarities.In the late 1990s, Sean C. Wood was convicted of assaulting a woman and holding her against her will.Now the Snohomish-area man is being held on $500,000 bail after allegedly assaulting and terrorizing another woman.In both instances, Wood accused the women of being unfaithful and he allegedly beat them, spit on them and threatened to kill them.In each case, the women managed to escape and run for help.Wood, 35, a convicted sex offender, was arrested Saturday for investigation of assault, harassment, unlawful imprisonment and violating a court order to have no contact with the woman. No charges have been filed. Wood and the woman have had a troubled relationship. He was arrested for investigation of domestic violence assault in December, according to court records.Despite the no-contact order, the woman told deputies she continued to live with Wood until she could move her belongings.On Saturday, Wood allegedly confronted her about dating another man and then spit on her, slapped her face and punched her legs and arms. He allegedly choked her and said, "I'm going to do you and the rest of the world a favor and end it for you now."The woman eventually was able to send out a short text message to her dad. She asked him to send police to the home. Wood met the Snohomish County sheriff's deputy at the front door and denied that the woman was there, court papers said.Just as he was closing the door, the woman ran out from the side of the house toward another deputy.She had bruises on her face, according to police reports.She told deputies that Wood had ordered her to stay silent and hide in a closet. In 1998, Wood was convicted of assault and kidnapping with sexual motivation after holding his then-girlfriend captive.He accused her of having a relationship with another man, then drove her to a secluded cabin, slapped her in the face and hit her with a belt. He also tore off her clothes and burned them, court papers said.He put her in a scalding hot shower and later forced her to have sex.Hours after the ordeal started, Wood passed out from drinking. The woman ran to a neighbor's house and called police.He was sentenced to prison.In 2007, Wood was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender.In Everett District Court on Tuesday, defense attorney Mark Mestel asked for a lower bail. He said the woman had recanted a complaint that led to a previous no-contact order.Deputy prosecutor Chris Sedgewick argued that the half-million-dollar bail should remain in place."He has significant violent history," he said. Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com

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